“He found a muse in the eucalyptus tree, using its composition as a model for columns that bear tremendous loads but with an intentional slant evocative of the imperfect trees from which they were derived, somehow appearing to bear no weight,” Rogove says. “Collectively, the columns give the feeling of a vast forest.”
The ceiling of the apse rises 246 feet high. The walls of the church are filled with large stained-glass windows, flooding the nave with rainbow-colored light.
“Seeing it bathed in the vibrant spectral light of the stained glass…really has an indescribable beauty,” Rogove says.
How to Visit La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia is a working church, but is still open to visitors. Much of the funding for the construction of the church comes from the entry fees.
To visit, you must purchase tickets to tour the church online at SagradaFamilia.org. If you have a group of 30 or more, the church will provide a guided tour. You must reserve a time slot for your visit, which are generally available starting two months ahead of time.
The base price for La Sagrada Familia (which includes an audio guide through an app) is 26 euros, or about $29. A second tier, which cost 36 euros, or about $40, includes access to the building’s towers. Note that this involves climbing long, narrow, spiral staircases and are not accessible to those mobility issues.
For guided tours, the prices jump to 30 euros and 40 euros, respectively. There are discounts for seniors, people under 30, and students. Children under 11 and visitors with disabilities are able to visit for free.
Visitors must wear appropriate clothing for a church, which means no bare shoulders, see-through clothes, and pants or shorts that don’t go higher than mid-thigh.
The church accepts worshipers every Sunday at 9 a.m. and on holy days through the Nativity façade entrance (east side of the church). Entrance for worship is free but subject to capacity.
